Lace-fastener.



No. 697,064. Patented Apr. 8, I902.

A. 'H. ANDREWS & E. T. MORRISON.

LACE FASTENER. (Application filed Aug. 10, 1901 (No. Model.)

NiTnn STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ARTHUR H. ANDREWS AND EUGENE T. MORRISON, OF HARRISBURG,

PENNSYLVANIA.

LACE-FASTENER.

enactment-101v forming part of Letters Patent No. 697,064, dated April is, 1902. Application filed August 10, 190 1. Serial No. 71,568. (No model-l To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that we, ARTHUR H. ANDREWS and EUGENE T. MORRISON, citizens of the United States, residing at Harrisburg, in the county of Dauphin, State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Shoe-Lace Fasteners, of which the following is a specification.

The invention consists of a fastener made of a single piece of metal adapted to be clamped onto the upper edge of a shoe-top and to support the end of a shoe-string and the loose folds of the knot.

In the accompanying drawings, which illustrate the invention, Figure 1 is a perspective view of the fastener. Fig. 2 is a front view of a portion of a shoe-top provided with a pair of fastenings. Fig. 8 is a central longitudinal section through a fastener applied to a shoetop, showing the fastener and shoe top in their normal relations; and Fig. 4 is a side view of a fastener applied to a shoe-top, the fastener being inclined to open the loop for the purpose of receiving the lace.

Referring to the drawings, A indicates the fastener, which, as shown, is made of a flat strip of stiff metal doubled upon itself, thus forming the arms 7) c, which are united by thebond 1. The arm I) is shorter than the arm 0 and is substantially straight throughout the greater portion of its length, its lower end 2 being turned slightly inward toward the arm 0. The upper end 3 and the lower end 4 of the longer arm 0, as shown, are in a plane substantially parallel with the arm b, and the intermediate portion 5 between said ends is bowed outwardly, as shown, away from the arm 5.

The fastener is secured to the shoe-top 6 in the manner shown in Figs. 2, 3, and A by passing it downwardly over the upper edge of the shoe-top at one side of the eyelets, with the shorter arm on the inside and the longer arm on the outside of the shoe-top, the upper edge of the shoe fitting within the bend 1. It is then secured in place by indenting the upper ends of the arms adjacent to the bend by means of a suitable punch, thus forming projections 7 upon the inner sides of the arms which bind upon the shoe-top. The fastener may, however, be secured in any suitable manner.

When the fastener is secured to the shoe, the inner arm 1) lies fiat against the shoe-lining at all times, its lower end 2 being turned slightly outwardly to prevent catching in the stocking of the wearer, and the lower end 4 of the outer arm 0 normally rests against the side of the shoe, as shown in Fig. 3, the bowed portion of said arm thus forming with the shoe a closed loop for the support of the shoelace.

When it is desired to insert the folds of the knot and the lace end within the loop, the fastener is tilted to one side by the hand, as shown in Fig. 4. When the fastener is thus tilted, the leather bends at the point 2, which is opposite to the bowed portion of the arm 0, and the end 4: moves away from the leather, thus forming an opening through which the shoe-lace may be passed into the loop. As soon as the fastener is released it returns to its normal position, (shown in Fig. 3,) thus closing the loop and retaining the shoe-lace.

It will be seen that the fastener can be worn without any inconvenience to the wearer and that it will not catch in the clothing. It is preferably made from a piece of flat stiff metal, which is not too hard to be readily indented with a punch; but it may be made of spring metal, if desired, the indentations being made before the fastener is applied to the shoe.

Various minor changes may also be made in the fastener without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

Having described our invention, what we claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, 1s

' 1. As a new article of manufacture, a shoelace fastener consisting of a metal strip doubled upon itself and adapted to fit over a shoetop, one arm of the strip being longer than the other and bowed outwardly, and the other arm terminating opposite said bowed portion.

2. As a new article of manufacture, a shoelaoefastener consisting of a metal strip doubled upon itself and adapted to fit overashoetop, one arm of the strip being longer than the other and bowed outwardly, and the shorter arm terminating opposite said bowed portion and having its end turned inwardly toward the longer arm.

3. The combination with a shoe-top of a shoe-lace fastener consisting of a metal strip tion fitting, over and secured to the top of the shoe and its two arms extending downwardly on the inner and outer sides of the shoe-top respectively, the outer arm being longer than the inner arm and bowed outwardly and the inner arm terminating opposite said bowed portion and having its end turned inwardly toward the longer arm.

In testimony whereof we affix our signatures in presence of two witnesses.

ARTHUR H. ANDREWS. EUGENE T. MORRISON.

Witnesses:

T. Enw. MORRISON, CHARLES H. BABB. 

